►
Eruptions.► Nocturnal
itching, and an affection very much like erythema nodosum; there had
appeared red spots, varying from a half to two inches in diameter,
especially on the legs, below the knee; these pained her, and underwent
all the changes as if caused by a fall or blow, namely, the red changed
into a bluish, then greenish-yellowish color, leaving finally spots of a
little darker tint than the healthy skin; of these there were several,
but in different stages, [17]. ► A very distressing cutaneous disease, it
is well known, ensues in many persons from the contact, and even from
the effluvia of this shrub. It is extremely various in its action upon
persons of different idiosyncrasies; some cannot come within the
atmosphere of the shrub without suffering the most violent consequences,
others are but slightly affected by handling it, and some can even rub,
chew, and swallow the leaves without the smallest inconvenience; the
most formidable cases in persons subject to this poison usually commence
within twenty-four hours after the exposure; the interval is sometimes
longer, but more frequently shorter; the symptoms are generally ushered
in by a sense of itching and a tumefaction of the hands and face, the
swelling gradually extends over various parts of the body, assuming an
erysipelatous appearance; the inflamed parts become more elevated,
acquiring a livid redness, attended with a painful burning sensation;
small vesicles now appear upon the surface, which extend and run into
each other; they contain a transparent fluid, which by degrees becomes
yellow, and at length assumes a purulent appearance; a discharge takes
place from these vesicles or pustules, giving rise to a yellowish
incrustation, which afterwards becomes brown; in the mean-time an
insupportable sensation of itching and burning is felt; the inflamed
parts become excessively swollen, so that not unfrequently the eyes are
closed, and the countenance assumes a shapeless and cadaverous
appearance, which has been compared to that in malignant small-pox; the
disease is usually at its height from the fourth to the sixth day, after
which the skin and incrustations begin to separate from the diseased
parts, and the symptoms gradually subside; it is not common for any
scars or permanent traces of the disease to remain; notwithstanding the
violent character which it sometimes assumes, I never knew an
authenticated case of its terminating fatally; it is, however, capable
of occasioning the most distressing symptoms. I apprehend the majority
of persons are not liable to the injurious effects of the poisonous
sumachs; in those in whom a constitutional liability to the poison
exists, the disease frequently returns several times during life,
notwithstanding the utmost precaution in avoiding its causes. A
gentleman, residing in the country, informed me that he had been seven
times poisoned to the most violent degree; in such constitution a slight
exposure is sufficient to excite the disease. I have known individuals
badly poisoned in winter from the wood of Rhus vernix accidentally burnt
on the fire, [5]. ► The cellular tissue is greatly swollen,
of a deep-red color, and covered with watery vesicles, that itch most
intolerably, [15]. ► Small itching vesicles, that burst and
healed, with desquamation and moderate redness; after repeated
application to the desquamating spots, the skin became intensely red,
and large blisters formed and filled with lymph; this afterwards changed
to matter, and disappeared by the formation of a scab only after three
weeks, [13a]. ► Red indurated elevations on various parts
of the body, especially on the face, neck, and chest, [7]. ► The
result was a small moist scab, with the characteristic burning itching,
but it lasted only a day or two, [19a].
► Desquamation took place three
different times from all the parts affected with the vesicular eruption,
[15]. ►
Itching, with red spots on the skin (twenty-first day), [13]. ►
Redness and swelling of the skin of the forehead, eyelids, nose, cheeks,
lips, and ears, behind the ears, and on the front of the neck; the skin
of these parts is covered with minute lenticular vesicles, which are
filled with serum. These vesicles seem to be situated in the rete
mucosum, at least they involve a deeper tissue than the cuticle. During
the day, some of them find their way to the surface and are ruptured
while being scratched (third day). Same symptoms, with increased
violence (fourth day), [10]. [360.]►
Erysipelas of the head and face, [15].
► A number of boils came out on my
forehead, neck, and arms after proving the Rhus v., [15]. ►
Clusters of vesicles behind the left ear, [7].
► On rising, dema under the right
eye, difficulty in looking down, with disagreeable sensation; red spot
on the face, especially on the left side and on the upper part of the
chest, itching; in consequence of the dema, the eye is somewhat
sensitive when reading or writing, but causes no difficulty in looking
straight forward; during the day the face swollen (third day). A round
group of hydroa vesicles, filled with yellowish serum, between the nose
and the left corner of the mouth, and another group under the latter;
left side of the face somewhat swollen and covered with red spots; left
ear thick and red, posterior surface of it rough; some itching on the
lower part of the ear; the nose and right side of the face considerably
swollen, especially close under the eye, so much so that the cilia of
the lower lid lie on the swelling, and the eye appears very small; the
eye considerably irritated; the rays of the sun cause burning in the
face; much itching of the sexual organs, especially upon the scrotum and
præputium; hydroa vesicles on the back of the first and third fingers
of the left hand and of the second finger on the right hand; at 2 P.M.,
small yellowish hydroa vesicles on different parts of the face; the
right side of the nose and right cheek much swollen, the dema of the
face worse than yesterday; the skin rough (not chapped) and uneven; on
the back of the left hand and on the fingers some efflorescence, which
looks strikingly like itch; rubbing the affected parts causes itching;
at 3 P.M. an eruption, like measles, with unevenness of the skin on the
back of the left arm, close above the wrist, soon followed by blotches,
with violent itching and burning; face hot; in the evening much itching
and burning on different places in the face. At night, much itching on
the face and sexual organs, especially on the præputium; the skin on
the scrotum inflamed and thickened; very violent burning and itching on
the left cheek, soon followed by the whole face becoming so burning hot
that I had to leave the bed and wash the face in cold water (fourth
day). At rising, much burning on the hands, especially between the
fingers, which are somewhat swollen; the itchlike eruption on the back
of the left hand and on the fingers, which disappeared last evening, has
reappeared and disappeared several times during the day; the hydroa
vesicles on the back of the third finger larger than yesterday; the
right side of the face the same as last evening, the left worse, more
swollen, and inflamed; much itching and burning on the latter, also
behind the ears, which are swollen, inflamed, and rough (not chapped);
the attacks of itching, burning, and inflammation show the same
irregular periodicity as in the first proving, and are also followed by
an eruption of blotches, vesicles, and red spots, and are produced and
increased by the same causes; the general result of this proving much
the came as of the first (fifth day). The right ride of the face nearly
well; the left better than yesterday, but still much itching on the
lower part of the left cheek and on the back of the left ear; in the
face, desquamation of the parts which have been most affected; the hands
worse than yesterday; the itchlike eruptions on the backs of the hands
and on the fingers (at times violently itching) worse and more numerous
than at any previous day; itching upon the sexual organs; four small
pimples, filled with pus, on the face (sixth day). On waking, violent
itching between the fingers; on the face but little inflammation and
itching; the desquamation more extensive than yesterday; the back part
of the left ear still rough; the hands worse than yesterday; the skin
rough (seventh day). At 2 P.M. the lower part of the cheeks, especially
the right, swollen, inflamed, violently burning, and covered with
blotches; on the back of the hands and between the fingers, often
violent burning and itching; between the metacarpal bones of the left
thumb and first finger, the skin inflamed and swollen; erythema on the
right ride of the neck, extending to the chest; itching on the scrotum
and præputium (eighth day). At 2 A.M. severe itching on the hands,
particularly between the fingers, so that I had to put them in cold
water; on the whole, symptoms much like yesterday, namely, periodical
inflammation, swelling vesicles, red spots, blotches, itching and
burning on the face, ears, neck, and hands; this morning, little red
spots and itching on the inside of the thighs; the itchlike affection on
the hands has spread from two to three inches above the wrist, worse on
the left (ninth day). The last three mornings, at rising, an attack of
itching on the hands; the various symptoms very gradually subsiding;
desquamation on the face (twelfth day). The little scabs, formed from
the hydroa vesicles on the fingers, fell off to-day; much itching on
various parts of the body (thirteenth day). Desquamation on the fingers;
it commenced simultaneously on different parts, and spread in circles or
rings; some of these are confluent to-day, which causes an indented
appearance of the desquamation (seventeenth day). The desquamation on
the back of the hands and fingers is just completed, and is now
spreading into the palm of the hand; the nocturnal itching has occurred
but three or four times since the seventeenth day, and during the last
fourteen days scarcely any itching, not even at night (thirty-fifth
day). On the tenth day I had touched quickly, several times, the
eruption of urticaria with freshly picked stinging-nettles, and felt
distinctly the burning sensation of their touch; very soon a new
eruption of urticaria appeared, and the old (primitive) eruption
disappeared as fast as the new one came; at the same time the itching of
the old blotches decreased, while that of the new ones increased; this I
perceived very distinctly; the old eruption disappeared after the lapse
of ten or fifteen minutes, the new one after about half an hour. I
repeated this application the following days, and must attribute to this
treatment the fact that from this time I suffered less than I expected,
judging from the experience of the first proving; the nocturnal itching
was particularly much less, and of much shorter duration, [16a]. ► A day
or two afterwards the poison began to manifest itself, eruption
appearing on face, hands, genitals, and thighs; red, rough, and
resembling that produced by Rhus tox. in provings, the corners of the
mouth being in a scab; itching unbearable; Rhus tox. 2e was given. Four
days later the eruption is much worse; cannot sit still; has to scratch
himself continually; warm applications relieve; gave him Rhus venenata,
second centesimal, two drops every three hours, and continued warm
application; in twenty-four hours some relief; in forty-eight hours
great relief; in seventy-two hours great relief; in seventy-two hours
itching entirely gone, and eruption disappeared from genitals and
thighs; in five days hands are well, and scabs come off of face; feels
comfortable; in eight days, skin all peeling off on face where scabs
were and poison apparently almost entirely removed from his system, [23]. ►
Swelling of the face, with red spots and indurations constantly itching
and burning after rubbing, [7]. ► My face, and particularly
my upper lip, were much swollen and exceedingly painful; the
backs of my ears were swollen and covered with vesicles; both these and
those on my lip exuded a slightly yellow serum, and they went through
the same course as the other eruptions, [12].
► The face was mottled with red; the
redness was not dissipated by pressure of the finger, [7]. ► The
face is very dry and rough and has a scurfy appearance, and the skin
seems to be thickened and indurated (seventh day), [10]. ►
Eruption on the face, head, and chest, resembling the rash of typhoid
fever, disappearing on pressure, [19b].
[370.]►
Next day a slight itching of hands and lips; second day, itching of
hands and body, as well as face; face swollen; eruption on corner of
mouth, [21]. ►
Lips feel uncomfortable (first night); much swollen in the morning
(second day); lips peeling off; vesicles on lips and face emitting an
odor similar to a sore (third day), [20a].
► On rising, mouth and lips dry; lips
sore and swollen, blistered and cracked; it is impossible to keep the
mouth moist, getting easier one hour afterwards, but coming on again and
lasting all day; itching of upper lip and chin at 4 P.M.; at 6 P.M.,
lips and mouth become more feverish; at 8 P.M., lips painfully hot and
dry; cannot get them cool; they burn constantly (third day). On waking,
uncomfortable feeling in mouth and lips; lips painful, dry, and swollen
to double their natural size; white vesicle on lower lip; at 8 P.M.,
lips and tongue feel as if cracked; lips swollen, the upper one the
worse; itching in corner of mouth (fourth day), upper lip more swollen
than lower lip; lips and tongue feel as if cracked; lips peel off
somewhat; they burn and itch considerably when washing (fifth day). Lips
worse than ever; upper one most affected; lips black on edges; yellow
vesicles on inner side of lips, which break, discharging a thin sticky
fluid, agglutinating them together (12 M.); lips hot and dry and
burning, aggravated by washing in cold water or touching them with
tongue, or when eating anything sour; cream applied to the lips relieves
the burning sensation, but hot applications ameliorate more than all
(sixth day). Lips swollen and covered with a thick skin or crust, that
in breaking emits an offensive discharge, resembling that from a sore,
thin and sticky; warm water makes them feel comfortable and pleasant;
acid food hurts his lips (seventh day). Lips are better, but still smart
a good deal when touching acids; relieved by hot water; inside of lips
filled with little white vesicles (eighth day). Lips improving (ninth
day). Seem all right (thirteenth day), [20].
► Next day I was completely poisoned,
and the symptoms ran a course similar to that of the first proving, the
itching being worse on the hands, genitals, anus, lips, mouth, and nose;
hot water afforded great relief, and Clematis
erecta 2e cut the disease short, but did not prevent the skin
peeling off the hands, [20b]. ► During the day the itching in the face
has increased and spread over the nose, the edges of the nostrils, the
upper and lower lips, the external ears, and the inferior portion of the
neck immediately above the sternum and clavicles; the skin on these
parts feels rough, and is covered with a minute eruption of lenticular
vesicles, filled with transparent serum; itching on the back of the
hands, particularly between the fingers. The itching on the scrotum and
prepuce has become more troublesome, and is much increased by
scratching; scratching or rubbing of the parts is followed by intense
burning (second day), [10]. ► I felt no unpleasant effects for six or
seven hours after returning to Boston; about 8 P.M. I perceived the
backs of my hands were swollen and puffy, but without pain or itching;
my forehead and upper lip were soon in the same state. On the next
morning the tumefaction had increased, and I discovered various other
parts of my body to be infected; the backs of my hands and wrists, which
were the most advanced, began to show small watery vesicles; at noon I
applied cloths dipped in lead water to one hand and wrist, and in a
spirituous solution of the corrosive muriate of mercury to the other,
the parts began to itch, the tumefaction increased, vesication began to
take place on the swollen surface, small pustules formed and ran into
each other, and at last some were formed as large as nutmegs. On the
third day my eyes were nearly closed, in consequence of the swelling of
my forehead, eyebrows, and cheeks; the contents of the vesicles were
perfectly limpid; inoculation from them to other parts had no effect
neither in this nor any subsequent stage. On the evening of the fourth
day the inflammation appeared at its height; the burning sensation and
itching were intolerable; I could scarcely discern any object. On the
fifth day the pustules began to appear a little milky, and before night
the inflammation was evidently on the decline. On the sixth day a very
free desquamation began, first on my forehead, hands, and wrists. In
just a fortnight I was able to leave my chamber, blessed with a new
cuticle from the root of the hair on my forehead to my breast, from the
middle of my forearm to the tips of my fingers, and on the whole inside
of my thighs. After nine months, still subject to an eruption of watery
pustules between my fingers, which dry up and the cuticle peels off, [3]. ►
In one hour and a half I began to feel a most intense itching and
burning of the scrotum and penis; the burning sensation was rather in
the preponderance; the glans penis was very painful; slight friction
relieved the itching for a moment, but not the burning (first day). The
symptoms continued in the same severity; at 3 P.M., itching and burning
commenced on the back of my right hand, between the thumb and index
finger, also between the index and middle fingers (second day). Awoke
this morning with itching and burning in various parts of the body,
particularly on the palmar sides of both wrists attended with slight
swelling; slight itching and burning of the face, with a sensation as if
it was much swollen; it was red, but not shining. Both hands were
considerably swelled and very clumsy to use. Feeling of uneasiness in
consequence of the continual itching and burning, which were very
severe, almost insupportable; P.M., the itching and burning were
somewhat relieved by exercise; the burning and itching appear on the
face, particularly about the eyes (right); all the symptoms were
aggravated by rest. Hands, wrists, and face became covered with little
pimples of the same color as the skin; when broken, or the points are
scratched off, they exude a clear watery fluid. Fingers are very stiff
and much swollen; feel very much as though they had been scalded;
excessive burning of face; right eyelid swollen and stiff; the scrotum
is the seat of paroxysms of severe itching and burning (third day).
Symptoms all increased; face much swollen, red, covered with multitudes
of little papillæ; wrists much swollen, the swelling extending half way
to the elbow; arms very red and covered with innumerable vesicles, which
exude a clear watery fluid; hands in same condition; the pain was
excessive (fourth day). Hands and wrists much worse this morning; face
much swollen; the itching and burning continues with unabated vigor, and
are aggravated by the warmth of the bed and in a warm room; in the
evening, hands and wrists are still more swollen and excessively
painful; face a little less swollen and rather less painful;
incrustations appeared to-day on the inside of my thighs, extending down
one-half the length of the femur. A feeling as from fleabites on
different parts of the body (fifth day). Hands and arms still very sore,
but not so much swollen; the exudation is now light-yellow (sixth day).
The swelling of the arms and hands continues to abate; the cuticle now
scales off at those places which first broke out with vesicles; the
desquamation was excessive, as the cuticle peeled off some four times in
succession from the places that had been covered with vesicles; after
the cuticle came off, the first appearance of the skin was red and
shining, but after getting my hands damp, several cracks (like those of
chapped hands) appeared in different places; my hands became exceedingly
rough, the cuticle being dry and hard, also very tender, so that the
least bruise was very painful, and if the skin was broken, the blood
flowed freely, which was very thin, or if you please, anæmic (after six days), [12]. ► I
often scratched my neck under my shirt-collar during the day, and on
getting warm in bed I felt stinging and itching about my chest and back,
as though some insect was biting me (ninth day). Forehead swollen and
red, in the morning; during the day this extended to the whole head and
face; the upper lip was terribly swelled and the itching greatly
increased, especially in the septum narium; the itching extended to the
whole body; though no eruption appeared; at night the itching was so
great that I could hardly endure it; I passed a sleepless night (tenth
day). The vesicular eruption characteristic of Rhus showed itself on the
forehead in the morning; during the day the eruption spread over the
body and extremities, with a desire to scratch that was irresistible;
the scrotum, prepuce, and glans penis covered with vesicles (twelfth
day). The itching continued more than two weeks, [14]. ► The
scrotum is very much swollen, of a deep-red color, and covered with
vesicles, [15]. ► Back becomes covered with blotches;
itching is excited or brought on by exposure to cold air; gentle
scratching relieves the burning and itching, on the back; later, the
blotches disappear, the back becomes covered with ridges, and a fine
pale-red rash appears (second day). Itching on back is brought on in a
moment by cold air blowing on it (second night), [20a]. [380.]► Pimples like commencing boils on
the scapulæ and neck (seventeenth day), [13].
► Twenty-four hours after the first
application of the juice, I perceived a slight inflammation and swelling
where the application was made; on pressing this part there was slight
soreness, apparently near the bone; these symptoms increased steadily
but slowly during the next eleven days, with occasional itching and
burning on the place of application. On the fourteenth day the arm
presented the following appearance: The epidermis, on the place of the
application, can be easily removed with the finger nail, and then little
scabs form in a short time; the whole place inflamed, very much swollen,
and red, almost three inches broad, and a little more than three and a
half inches long; the centre redder and harder than its surroundings; a
fold of the skin on the affected part at least six times thicker than
one on a corresponding place on the other arm; when uncovered there is
little itching and burning, but very violent when covered by the
shirt-sleeve (linen); slight rubbing causes a pleasant sensation, a kind
of satisfaction; scratching is painful, but both increase the itching
and inflammation; a slight impression only is produced by severe
pressure with the finger; the redness is not circumscribed, but passes
over into an eruption, like measles; the arm measures on the affected
place, in circumference, almost an inch more than the other arm; the
surrounding parts itch more than the place of application, although the
latter is the chief seat of disease. On the sixteenth day, at dawn, I
was awakened by violent itching; the swelling is five and a half inches
long; considerable dema, especially on the side of the ulna, and a
half inch above the affected part; when covered by the shirt-sleeve,
very violent itching; on scratching, I removed a part of the epidermis,
which was followed by a secretion of a little serum and a very slow
formation of scabs; the remaining epidermis, for the last two or three
days, adheres closer than before. On the seventeenth day I was awakened
at 3.30 A.M. by a violent itching and burning, the arm looking very much
worse; presented the appearance of a severe phlegmonous inflammation;
the part affected has a livid color, and the inflammation extends from
two to three inches each way, so that the whole inflamed part is six and
a half inches long and six inches wide; the inflammation is not
circumscribed, but passes over into an eruption, like measles, which
varies from one-half to two inches in width; the inflamed skin feels
very hot, and is (though uncovered) eight and a half degrees warmer than
the corresponding place on the other arm (I held the thermometer on the
arm, slightly pressing, but without covering it); small scabs of dried
serum on the inflamed surface; the swollen part of the arm is hard, like
board, but without pain; after dinner, disagreeable drawing sensation in
the arm, extending into the hand, and a feeling of tightness; towards
evening, reappearance of the pain; the swelling and inflammation
increased through the day in violence and extent, towards the elbow, a
whole inch, not so much in other directions; the nerves in the armpit
sore and sensitive to pressure; late in the evening, red irregular spots
on the left cheek. On the eighteenth day the swelling extends from the
elbow to the hand; the spots on the face larger and redder, elevated a
little above the surface of the skin, and slightly burning; some
swelling above the left eye; two red spots and a blotch under the right
corner of the mouth; the arm, on waking, was not so red and swollen as
soon after, when the itching and burning commenced; on waking, the
redness and inflamed part passed over very gradually into
healthy-looping skin towards the elbow, less so towards the other sides,
but soon after rising the burning and itching reappeared, which was
presently followed (without scratching) by increased redness,
inflammation, and an eruption of blotches, vesicles, small pimples, and
spots like measles; the efflorescences were around the evenly-inflamed
part (which was about seven inches long and six inches wide), forming a
border between that and the skin, most numerous near the former, and
especially on the side of the ulna and around the wrist; this border
itched most; the swelling was of greater extent than the inflammation,
and continued so through the whole proving. All these symptoms, although
they on the whole had grown daily worse, were periodically better; this
periodicity, however, was the same when the disease decreased; every
attack, from six to eight a day, commenced with itching, then increased
inflammation, after which, red spots of various sizes, like measles,
appeared on the border, finally, blotches, vesicles, and little pimples;
the three later eruptions were particularly full, and the inflammation
of the whole arm vastly increased
when the itching caused me to scratch, which I sometimes could not
possibly avoid; this itching was perfectly intolerable; at such times I
would put the arm in very cold water, which gave immediate relief, and
if I kept it in about eight or ten minutes, it would gradually subdue
the inflammation and eruption and bring the arm to its usual appearance;
I could at any time cause an attack by the slightest rubbing; they were
also brought on by heat or violent bodily exercise, but especially by
close study; they were least frequent during conversation, light bodily
exercise, or when in a cool atmosphere; for this reason I commenced
bathing the arm occasionally in cold water: these general remarks
pertain to the whole proving. On severe external pressure, pain deep in
the arm, as if on the bones; an eruption, like measles, over the third,
fourth, and fifth metacarpal bones, and vesicles on the fingers of the
left hand; the latter appear and disappear very quickly, causing most
violent itching; the affected part is painful, like a sore spot;
transient itching on different parts of the body; the left arm measures
one inch more in circumference than the other; in the afternoon,
vesicles on different parts of the body, with violent itching; the
swelling to the middle of the metacarpal bones; at noon, drawing pain in
the large nerves of the arm, from the armpit downward; during the night
I keep, against my habit, the arm outside the bedcover, as the heat in
the bed quickly causes itching. On awaking on the nineteenth day, a
severe attack of itching; the swelling reaches upward two inches above
the elbow, and downward almost to the fingers; almost the whole forearm
is violently inflamed, strikingly like a phlegmonous inflammation, and
is, at the inflamed part (uncovered), nine degrees hotter than the other
arm; the temperature was not taken during an attack of itching and
eruptive outbreak; when there is none the skin looks smooth, tight, and
shining, at times painful, as if from a sore or wound, which looks as if
the skin would peel; itching on different parts of the body; to-day very
few blotches and vesicles on the arm, probably on account of the
occasional bathing in cold water, though the swelling and inflammation
are of greater extent than on any previous day; towards evening the
inflammation not circumscribed, but is very gradually passing over into
healthy skin; as the affection of the anus does not seem to have
increased during the day, it appears to have come to its height. On the
twentieth day, after 7 A.M., a severe attack of itching; the skin of
affected part peels off, and the new skin looks healthy, but inflamed,
and is very sensitive; directly on this two pustules, with six or seven
very small ones near them, filled with matter, and the larger ones with
an inflamed halo around them; dema on the back of the hand; itching on
different parts of the body, but on attempting to rub the spot the
sensation immediately passes to another place near by; in the evening
the swelling as large as on the seventeenth day; about two-thirds of the
skin at the place of application has peeled off. On the twenty-first day
the itching is most around the wrist and elbow and on the inside of the
arm, none on the place where the poison was applied, which has peeled
entirely; the arm has pretty nearly the normal temperature; the skin
looks normal, only a little redder, and not shining in appearance. On
the twenty-second morning another eruption of small pustules on the same
place, but a little larger than yesterday; the skin peels off again on
the affected spot., and still looks red, as well as the skin about it,
though the latter is not so red as the former; the arm still somewhat
swollen; the thickness of a fold of skin is not sufficient to account
for the comparatively large circumference of the arm, consequently the
parts under the skin must also have
been affected and swollen, and are still somewhat so; when the affection
was the worst, it was absolutely impossible to form a fold of the skin
on account of its thickness and hardness. On the twenty-fourth day the
swelling is almost wholly gone, the skin almost normal, only a little
redder and thicker at the affected part; it commences to peel off at the
edges; itching around the elbow and wrist; vesicles. On the
twenty-seventh day the skin of the whole forearm peels, and large pieces
can easily be got off; itching; a few very small scabs of serum; the
skin around the wrist thickly callous, rough, with vesicles and
blotches. On the thirty-second day the skin on the place of application,
though better, looks still red and is still thickened; this appearance
lasted several weeks, and has disappeared very gradually; the skin on
the left forearm looks normal, but is very irritable, as the slightest
rubbing causes a very profuse eruption of blotches, vesicles, and small
pimples. Forty-sixth day; there has been violent itching several nights
in succession, especially on the back, but daytime on the face, neck,
and hands, followed soon by the appearance of red spots, blotches,
vesicles, and little pimples. From this time up to five months later,
nearly every night, especially at midnight, I had severe itching,
particularly on the back; it then began to be less frequent; generally
it wakened me, as I commenced scratching while asleep, and in this way
increased the affection and itching, but if the waking was from some
other cause, I was sure to have an attack; scratching with the hand
aggravated it greatly; rubbing with a soft brush gave relief, but it was
entirely subdued by washing with cold water or snow; at night I placed
my back several times on snow for relief; doing this in a cold room, it
seems singular that I never took cold, although I left a warm bed, very
thinly clad, to go out-doors for snow, the mercury being frequently
twelve or fifteen degrees below zero; my back presented during this time
a shocking appearance; it had been severely scratched, and was covered
with bloody scabs; during the attacks it was burning hot, and covered
with blotches and pimples, [16]. ► Some of the party suffered severely, the
inflammatory action reaching up the arms to the trunk in one, in another
only as high as the elbows, whilst in a third the effects were confined
to the hands, which, as usual in these cases, became swollen, inflamed,
and finally ulcerated, [24]. ► Itching over the whole body (sixteenth
day); the next day when rubbing the itching places, red spots appeared
on the arms and hands, [13]. ► Fine vesicular eruption on the forearm,
wrist, back of the hands, between and on the fingers, also scrotum and
ankles; the vesicles are situated upon an inflamed erysipelatous base,
and accompanied with most intolerable itching, especially in the
evening, in a warm room, and in bed; after scratching and rubbing the
parts (which cannot be resisted) the itching is intolerable; large
quantities of serum run from each vesicle after it is scratched, [15]. ►
As soon as the desquamation had nearly ceased, two large furuncles
appeared on my left wrist, one anteriorly and the other posteriorly;
then the diarrha stopped, but as soon as the boils began to heal, it
came on again. After checking the diarrha a large furunculus appeared
on my right thigh anteriorly; this was very malignant, and continued to
slough for four weeks; when the "core" sloughed out, a cavity
was left into which you might easily put the end of your index finger.
Seven more boils of smaller size appeared on the same thigh, and were
all painful; when they healed, they left the surface of a bluish-red,
and soon became a bright-red. Three boils also made their appearance on
my face, though very painful, they were not very large, [12]. ►
Itching in palm of left hand, and appearance of vesicles on fingers of
left hand, itching terribly, aggravated by cold water; in the evening,
itching of hands continues; vesicles appear on fingers of both hands
(seventh day); as soon as he feels comfortable, and when falling asleep,
the hands begin to itch and prevent his sleeping for an hour (eighth
day); troublesome itching and burning of hands and fingers (ninth day);
intense itching of hands upon awaking and immersing in water, showing
after rubbing little raised streaks of a yellowish color; this is
composed of patches of little yellowish vesicles, worse between the
fingers and in the cracks or lines in the palms; itching worse in the
morning (tenth day); hands smart and burn considerably after scratching
and rubbing them (eleventh day); itching of hands and fingers same as
yesterday, showing the same yellow patches previously described; the
fingers are much swollen, also the palms (twelfth day); wakes up during
night with itching of the hands; rubs and scratches them until sore;
violent burning and smarting, preventing him from sleeping a long time;
hands itch violently through the day, relieved by putting them in very
hot water, as hot as can he borne without scalding; this seems to make
the pain felt in the very bones, but relieves for some hours, after a
thorough soaking; hands and fingers swollen, cannot wear his ring, which
generally is too large for him; the skin appears raised in ridges of a
yellow color, puffy to the touch, the other skin on hands appearing red;
hands become sore from severe rubbing, and vesicles appear between
fingers (thirteenth day); itching on rising, same as for three or four
days; cold water allays a little for the time being, but the itching and
stinging can be felt very distinctly; yellow puffy ridges on palms of
hands (fourteenth day); wakes at 4 A.M., and has to rise and wash hands
in order to allay the itching, rubbing only making it worse; itching of
hands during the day (fifteenth day); skin peeling off fingers and palms
(twenty-fourth and twenty-ninth days); skin peels off most, and began to
peel when the vesicles were on fingers and palms (thirty-fourth day);
skin peeling off slowly (thirty-six day); skin still peeling off
(fortieth to forty-eighth day), [20].
► Complete desquamation of the
cuticle of the palms of the hands and fingers, three different times, [15]. ►
Slight vesicular eruption on the backs of the hands and about the eyes,
which disappeared in a short time, without further inconvenience, [4]. ►
Eruption of pimples and minute vesicles, with excessive itching on the
backs of the hands and between the fingers (third day); same symptoms
with increased violence (fourth day), [10].
[390.]►
Hard elevated pimples on the hands, on which vesicles appear, with great
itching, [7]. ► Hands hard, rough, and tender, [15]. ►
This morning vesicles made their appearance in the palm of the left hand
wherever the sap of the plant had touched the skin in gathering it
(ninth day), [10]. ► Itching hives, deep under the skin, in
the palms, [7]. ► Large fissures on the ends of the
fingers, that bleed readily, [15].
► The end of the fingers have a
number of cracks on them, that bleed from the slightest cause, [15]. ►
Vesicles as clear as water, clustered especially on the fingers, [7]. ►
Clusters of vesicles on the fingers and other parts of the body, at
first itching, afterwards burning and painfully sore, [7]. ►
Intolerable itching and burning in the left foot; itching increasing in
intensity as the usual means were applied for its relief. Watery
vesicles (left foot), not papillary, but merely a rising of the cuticle;
in some places the vesicles were confluent (left foot); skin became
congested, thick, and stiff, attended with a severe sensation of weight
and burning; at this time the itching became, so intolerable, that I
often applied physical force to the parts affected, hammering them with
my knife-handle, or striking my foot against the sharp corners of the
bedstead rail; this rendered the itching more intense, so that I was
obliged to desist from any effort to obtain relief; exercise increased
the itching; partial dema of the left foot; also itching and burning
of the same character (as experienced in the foot) in other parts,
scrotum, forehead, eyelids, forepart of the neck, and on the right foot,
attended with a slightly puffed appearance of all these parts; on the
fourth day of my illness, appeared vesicles on the right foot, and
formication occasionally in the swollen parts, prickings as from
excessive summer heat; vesicles with itching and burning on the bend of
the left elbow; sensation of intense fulness, itching, and burning in
the right foot; on the morning of the fifth day, vesicles began to
break, and scabs formed; dema of the legs, pit remaining after
pressure; on the sixth day, vesicles on the fingers and back of right
hand; as the vesicles broke and desquamation commenced, acute
inflammation of the surface (feet, hands, etc.) of a dark-red color, supervened, with intense
prickling heat, as though a hot iron plate was held in close proximity
to the swollen parts; suppuration of the whole of the superior surface
of the left foot, and occasional patches of the size of a half dime (4d.
English) to a dime (6d. English); extending half way to the knee;
suppuration in patches of the right foot and fingers of the right hand;
deep, corroding, phagedenic ulcers, burning prickling, and dema
continuing; the ulcers discharge a thin straw-colored, acrid and very
fetid pus, the odor was precisely similar to that experienced in the
dissecting-room. The intensity of symptoms continued about three weeks,
but it was three months before I was entirely free from all the
symptoms, [11]. ► Ankles very red and swollen, with watery
vesicles all over the ankles, feet, and toes, that discharge large
quantities of water, [13]. [400.]►
Large watery vesicles on the ankles, that are very painful, night and
day, [15]. ►
Very large watery blisters on the sides of the feet, [15]. ►
Violent itching in various parts of the body just as after fleabites;
biting, [7]. ► Sensations.►
Itching of the skin on various parts of the body, [19b]. ►
Itching suddenly, here and there, [7].
► Itching worse after midnight and in
the morning, [7]. ► In all the provings, the itching was
worse on the cuticle and mucous membrane; hot water always relieved the
itching, [20c]. ► Violent itching behind and below the
right ear (eleventh day), [13]. ► Itching behind the right ear (fifteenth
day), [13]. ►
Itching of face, in the evening, particularly the lips (third day);
itching of upper lip (fourth day); of face and lips, and somewhat of
fingers and lower limbs (fifth day); of face, particularly the nose, and
some on lower limbs (sixth day); some itching of lips and lower limbs
(seventh day), [22]. [410.]►
Creeping sensation on face and arms (third day), [22]. ► Slight
itching and burning in the face, particularly about the eyes and
forehead, and voluptuous itching on the scrotum and prepuce (first
evening), [10]. ► The itching is so intolerable that it is
impossible to resist the inclination to scratch; after scratching, the
parts burn and sting, become more swollen, and feel stiff and dry (third
day); same symptoms, with increased violence (fourth day), [10]. ►
After scratching for a few minutes, the itching is entirely relieved for
several hours (third day); same symptoms, with increased violence
(fourth day), [10]. ► The itching and swelling on the face,
between the fingers, and on the scrotum and prepuce became so
intolerable, that, fearing it would incapacitate me for business, I took
Rhus tox. 6th, every four hours, and bathed the parts with cream. This
treatment alleviated the symptoms somewhat (fifth day), [10]. ► The
itching and swelling in the face is very much abated, as well as that on
the scrotum and prepuce (sixth day), [10].
► The itching comes on at intervals
of five or six hours, but it may be produced at any time by rubbing or
scratching (sixth day), [10]. ► Constant itching of the under lip for
several days, with a bright-red appearance, accompanied with great
burning and itching of the arms, [15].
► The burning pain and itching of the
face were beyond endurance (third day), [6].
► Itching of chin and upper lip
(after six hours, third day), [20].
[420.]►
Nose itches severely (third day), [20a].
► Nose itches at night (fifth day), [20]. ►
Itching at anus; in the afternoon the itching becomes exceedingly
annoying, relieved temporarily by scratching; in the evening becomes so
unbearable that he cannot sleep; pinching and pressing afford no relief;
brandy applied on a compress affords relief and abates the pain in two
or three minutes, but when first applied creates such a terrible burning
that he cannot lie still, and almost goes into spasms (seventh day);
wakes up at 3 A.M., with itching of anus, that yields to application of
brandy as before (eighth day); very little itching at anus (ninth day), [20]. ►
Itching of genitals, especially prepuce (eighth day); slight itching of
genitals (ninth day); itching on scrotum and prepuce worse (tenth day);
troublesome itching of the scrotum, penis, and especially of the
prepuce, worse on becoming warm (weather exceedingly hot), (eleventh
day); itching of scrotum, penis, and prepuce through the day, unchanged
by scratching (twelfth day); very slight itching on genitals (thirteenth
day), [20]. ►
Considerable itching of the penis and scrotum (first evening); intense
itching of genital organs, lying awake to scratch (first night); itching
continues unaltered; warm water ameliorates; fine eruption around neck
of penis; intolerable burning and itching of whole genital organs;
intense heat of penis, especially on the glans, at 12 M; at 7 P.M., the
itching on genitals becomes unbearable; relieved by warm-water cloths
applied to parts; after an hour's constant application, the itching
almost entirely disappears; the water has to be changed frequently, and
can be borne up to boiling heat; prepuce considerably swollen (twelfth
day); itching occasionally on penis and scrotum, through the night;
prepuce very much swollen, as also glans penis; desire for an embrace,
but the itching and burning are so severe that he cannot complete the
act; his wife complains of a terrible prickling and burning in the
vagina after coition, lasting several minutes (second night), [20a]. ►
Itching unbearable about once in five or six hours on the prepuce and
scrotum (third day); same symptoms, with increased violence (fourth
day), [10]. ►
Severe itching and burning of the scrotum, [15]. ► Awoke
with burning pain and itching of the scrotum, about 2 A.M., [6]. ►
The palms of the hands are very dry, and the inside cuticle hard and
burning hot all the time, [13]. ► Scratching is followed by excessive
burning, and between the fingers by a dull aching pain, the skin
becoming more swollen, hard, and white, as in urticaria (sixth day), [10]. [430.]► The itching on the hands and
between the fingers is very harassing, and is much increased by rubbing
and scratching (sixth day), [10]. ► The itching returned at bedtime, and was
somewhat troublesome through the night (sixth day), [10]. ► This
morning the itching returned with great severity in the hands, and was
relieved by bathing with hot water, also in the evening (seventh day), [10]. ►
Hands have been very troublesome at intervals of twelve hours during the
day (ninth day), [10]. ► Itching and burning in the palm of the
left hand and between the fingers of both hands, have been very
annoying, almost painful at intervals of ten or twelve hours (ninth to
sixteenth day); itching abating (sixteenth day), [10]. ►
Violent itching in the palms without visible eruption, [7]. ► Itching
of hands (fingers and palms) after washing (sixth day), [20]. ►
Itching of the thighs (third day); with increased violence (fourth day),
[10]. ►
At night itching and redness on the inside of the thighs, from the perinæum
to the knees (fifth day), [10]. ► Thighs and skin covering lower portion of
abdomen itched considerably (seventh day), [10]. [440.]► Some itching on thighs and scrotum
(eighth day), [10]. ► Most intolerable itching of the ankles,
feet, and toes, aggravated by warmth, [13].